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Library Teacher

Program Description

The Library Teacher program prepares library teacher candidates who share a commitment to improving student learning and providing exemplary school library programs that engage children and teachers in the development of information, media, and technological literacy skills and lifelong learning values. School libraries today provide 21st century learning environments that ensure that students and staff are effective and ethical users and creators of ideas and information. By working with classroom teachers to plan, deliver, mediate, and assess student learning, library teachers have crucial roles to play in amplifying and deepening classroom lessons with the resources and specialized skills available to them.

Learning Outcomes

Our Library Teacher candidates are prepared to develop and promote quality school library programs. They understand and apply multiple technologies for individual and group learning, empowering students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. They understand the history and current role of school libraries in education and learning. They are ready for leadership roles in teaching and information literacy, technological literacy, and media literacy. They work closely with other educators to instill a love of learning and reading, ensure equitable access to information resources, and to develop knowledge and skills needed to stimulate and integrate quality reading and inquiry skills into classrooms, labs, and libraries.

Curriculum

Non-licensure option: All program components are required except the Practicum, Practicum Seminar and teacher tests. Non-licensure students must complete all pre-practicum hours embedded in the courses.

Please note: At Cambridge College locations outside of Massachusetts, this program is currently non-licensure only.

Professional Seminar and Project

9

Credits

Professional Seminar I: Library Teacher K-12

ELM 691  2 credit(s)

The Professional Seminar is a signature element of the adult learning model at Cambridge College. It grounds learning in a cohort group of students with a faculty leader. The cohort studies professional standards for school library teachers, licensure requirements and process, and the job search. It also links them with wider networks in the field. Students integrate their learning from classes, workshops, and experience. Transformed by the resulting knowledge, competencies, attitudes and values, students become reflective practitioners and lifelong learners.

Professional Seminar II: Library Teacher K-12

ELM 692N  2 credit(s)

The Professional Seminar is a signature element of the adult learning model at Cambridge College. It grounds learning in a cohort group of students with a faculty leader. The cohort studies professional standards for school library teachers, licensure requirements and process, and the job search. It also links them with wider networks in the field. Students integrate their learning from classes, workshops, and experience. Transformed by the resulting knowledge, competencies, attitudes and values, students become reflective practitioners and lifelong learners.

Professional Seminar III: Library Teacher K-12

ELM 693N  2 credit(s)

The seminar also supports students’ work on their independent learning projects, from identifying topics, to guiding the research and writing, to completion. The seminar leader approves the finished projects.

Independent Learning Project: Library Teacher

ELM 800  3 credit(s)

The Independent Learning Project is a culminating learning experience that helps educators integrate their personal and formal learning and their professional experiences into a meaningful whole. It reflects the general guidelines for library teachers and articulates the individual’s educational and administrative philosophy. The project is research and action based, on a focused topic chosen by the educator, within the area of licensure. It engages educators in sustained research into educational practice and curriculum development; parts of the project may be implemented during the practicum.

Library Teacher Courses

24

Credits

Overview of the School Library Program

ELM 509  3 credit(s)

The course introduces the vision, mission and role of the 21st century school library program in the teaching and learning process. It also examines the library teacher’s anticipated roles and responsibilities as: teacher, information specialist, instructional partner with classroom teachers, and program manager. Emphasis is on the evolution of school library programs; the development of school library policies; the teaching of literacy, particularly information, media and technology literacy; collaboration strategies with teachers, community agencies and the public library; evaluation of the program and services. Other topics include: access to resources, facility design, budget, equity, ethics, needs assessment, strategic planning and advocacy to ensure a quality program. Pre-practicum hours of directed field-based training required.

Reference Resources

ELM 521  3 credit(s)

The course provides skills and knowledge needed to search and manage reference collection resources in print, digital, subscription and online web format that support the curriculum and the needs of diverse students and staff in a K-12 school environment. Library teacher candidates learn to evaluate and use text-based and electronic reference resources that support curriculum based learning projects. They also become familiar with numerous print and digital as well as government and community resources. The reference interview and information skills instruction methods are also considered.

New Technologies in the School Library

ELM 532  3 credit(s)

This hands-on course explores the role of technology in the teaching and learning process, particularly the ways technology can help teachers and students communicate and collaborate and become good consumers, contributors, and creators in a digital age. Topics include: access to online databases, educational use of the Internet, copyright and ethical issues, major issues in media literacy, and the role of the library teacher as a technology leader. Pre-practicum hours of directed field-based training required.

Literature for Young Adults

ELM 517  3 credit(s)

This survey course introduces classic and contemporary literature considered appropriate for young adults, that bridges the gap between children’s and adult books. It provides educators with the knowledge and skills needed to integrate young adult literature into classrooms and libraries. Thematic approaches are explored along with practical activities to promote lifelong reading, writing and appreciation of literature. Critical review sources and selection tools are also examined along with the standards and systems for the creation and maintenance of records.

Information Literacy

ELM 533  3 credit(s)

The course focuses on the integration of information literacy standards into the school library program and the teaching of information literacy skills, their theoretical foundations, and the strategies to teach these skills to K-12 library users. The library teacher candidate examines instructional design and strategies, national and state information literacy standards and skills, exemplary information search models, and learner assessment methods. Pre-practicum hours of directed field-based training required.

Children’s Literature

ELM 523  3 credit(s)

The course enhances and extends students’ knowledge of literature for children through in-depth involvement with books. The course focuses on selection, evaluation, and methods of sharing and discussing various types of literature, using print and other media. Students read widely from a broad range of literature and develop methods of incorporating literature into classroom and library experiences. Critical review sources and selection tools are also examined along with the standards and systems for the creation and maintenance of records.

Evaluation, Selection and Management of Learning Resources

ELM 515  3 credit(s)

The course examines the collection development process, policies and procedures for the acquisition and maintenance of print, digital, online and government and community resources that support the teaching and learning process and best meet the needs of all learners, including English language learners. Emphasis is on organization of the collection including: the standards and systems for the creation and maintenance of records, the classification system, subject headings, bibliographic/authority control; MARC21, the components of automated library systems. Additional topics covered are: professional library selection tools; collection evaluation; identification of user needs; the relationship between the curriculum and the collection; cooperative collection development with faculty and the public library; funding; intellectual freedom; equity of access. Pre-practicum hours of directed field-based training required.

Production of Instructional Materials

ELM 561  3 credit(s)

This hands-on course introduces multimedia technology and its instructional uses in designing authentic learning environments. Library teacher candidates gain experience creating multimedia projects for classrooms, school libraries, colleagues and students. They examine a variety of Web 2.0 tools, presentation software and tools for teaching. Basic production vocabulary and concepts of media literacy are also studied.

Practicum (licensure students only)

5

Credits

Practicum Prequisites

Pass all teacher tests required by the state for this license. Massachusetts: Communication & Literacy (MTEL).

The practicum is guided and evaluated by a licensed/certified library teacher in the classroom and a Cambridge College supervisor. Practicum locations are subject to MA DESE regulations and must be approved by the program chair. Students are responsible for discussing options for practicum with the program chair.

Practicum: Library Teacher K-12 (300 Hours)

ELM 790  3 credit(s)

Prerequisites: Pre-practicum, pass all initial licensure courses, pass all teacher tests required by Massachusetts for this license. 300 hours in a school library; divided into two 150 hour experiences at two of the three school levels (elementary, middle, high school). Practicum Seminar required concurrently. The Practicum experience is in the role and at the level of the license sought, guided and evaluated by a professional licensed/certified library teacher and a Cambridge College supervisor. Practicum locations are subject to MA DESE regulations and must be approved by the program chair. Students are responsible for discussing options for practicum with the program chair. The Practicum experience provides library teacher candidates the opportunity to gain insights into the profession and to master the current Professional Standards for Library Teachers. Students reflect on their own professional growth and examine theory through actual practice. Exit Performance Portfolio required for credit.

Practicum Seminar: Library Teacher

ELM 791  2 credit(s)

Practicum ELM790 required concurrently. The seminar for classroom experience supports students’ growth as they assume the library teacher’s role. It is the setting for students to interpret their field-based experiences and transform them into skills, knowledge constructs, attitudes and values. The seminar provides a cohort/support for students to address problems and find solutions, while utilizing current academic research and practices. They master understanding and practice of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, develop the skills necessary for the teacher tests, and become familiar with the current reforms and changes in state regulations on educator licensure. Exit Performance Portfolio required for credit.

School Requirements

State Health Requirements

The Massachusetts Health Department and Cambridge College require the following of students in Massachusetts:

Immunizations – All students in Massachusetts are required to get certain immunizations before you can register for your first term. See form

Health Insurance – In Massachusetts, undergraduate students taking nine or more credits/term and graduate students taking six or more credits/term must enroll in the College’s health insurance plan. Students who have insurance with comparable coverage may request a waiver. See information and enroll or waive.

Note: Rates are as of September 2017, and are subject to change without notice. Rates apply to all students, unless otherwise noted.

Financial Aid

Cambridge College offers financial aid to students in our degree programs who are enrolled at least half time. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits each term. Graduate and doctoral students must be enrolled in at least 4 credits each term. Learn more

Grants, Scholarships and Loans

Cambridge College welcomes the opportunity to support your efforts to pay for college. Federal, state and local resources in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study, including Cambridge College Scholarships, are available to help defray the cost of tuition. Learn more

Getting Your Company to Help

Many companies have tuition assistance programs, designed to help their employees with their professional development. Learn more

Cambridge College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The College and all its degree programs are authorized by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. The College is authorized to operate and offer selected degree programs in their states by the California Bureau for Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education, the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico, and is also recognized by the Puerto Rico Department of Education.

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